St. John Lutheran Church (Sprauge, Wash.)

In 1890 negotiations were begun among Lutherans in Sprague, Ritzville, and Lind to call a pastor to the area. St. John Lutheran Church of Sprague was formed on November 8, 1891 and, along with Ritzville and Lind, Rev. W. Kropp was called to form one parish. Sprague left this alignment and in 1899 Louis Drews was called. In 1902 a new alignment was set up between the Sprague and Medical Lake congregations, but that lasted only until 1906, when Sprague called its own pastor. Sprague remained a single point parish until 1929, when it was again served by pastors from Ritzville. In 1928 the congregation acquired the Methodist church, and additional property was purchased in 1930. In 1937 a new alignment was set up between St. John and Medical Lake. This continued until July of 1974, when an alignment was worked out with Emmanuel of Ritzville, and a call was issued to Rev. John N. Clauson. He was the pastor of St. John and the associate of Emmanuel. In 1978, the Lind congregation entered into the alignment, and this cluster has continued since that time.